title: Integrins in morphogenesis and signaling.
abstract: Integrins are a family of heterodimeric transmembrane receptors that provide a physical and biochemical bridge between components of the extracellular matrix and the intracellular physiological environment. Binding of integrins to their ligands results in the formation of cytoplasmic multi-protein assemblies composed of both cytoskeletal and signaling molecules. The composition and activity of these assemblies is regulated by the nature of integrin-ligand interactions, as well as by intracellular regulators that include tyrosine kinases and phosphatases, PKC, and small GTPases. Integrin-mediated cellular physiological responses include the activation of signal transduction, cytoskeletal rearrangements, and co-regulation of growth factor activities. These responses, combined with integrin-mediated cell adhesion, play a major role in tissue morphogenesis and developmental processes.
authors.affiliation: Craniofacial Developmental Biology and Regeneration Branch, National Institute of Dental Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-4370, USA.
authors.forename: B Z
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000502:physiology*; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / Q000502:physiology; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D016023:Integrins; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases